Judiciary Museum Opens at Supreme Court Celebration

Original handwritten copies of the state's three constitutions were unveiled together this morning at the new Tennessee Judiciary Museum in Nashville at a celebration attended by all five members of the current Supreme Court, three former chief justices, judges, legislators and many lawyers. Former Chief Justice Robert Cooper attended with his son, Attorney General Bob Cooper, along with former chief justices Frank Drowota and Micky Barker. Chief Justice Gary Wade, Appellate Court Clerk Michael W. Catalano, and Appeals Court judges Frank G. Clement, Patricia J. Cottrell and Andy Bennett spoke to the packed courtroom. In noting that the judicial branch is not mentioned until the fifth article of the 1796 Constitution, Wade said "we're simply the referees, and we hope we get the calls right."

The event opened the museum to the public and commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court Building with pictures of its construction (including Nashville lawyer Ward DeWitt's father who was a construction foreman on the project) and historic events that have happened there. "We have had a lot of firsts in this building," Bennett said of proceedings such as the swearing in ceremonies of the state's first woman and African American to the high court. Read Bennett's article about the building. Photos by Barry Kolar

Clerk of the Appellate courts Michael Catalano welcomed guests to the ceremony.

Judge Andy Bennett presented a history of the Supreme Court Building.

Judge Frank Clement is a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society.

Chief Justice Gary Wade talked about the importance of knowing Tennessee's legal history.

Judge Patricia Cottrell about Tennessee legal history in her introduction of Judge Bennett.